Bars Happy With NFL Decision to Move Eagles Game to Tuesday Night

Elliott Mills understands both sides of the debate over the postponed NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings that was supposed to happen Sunday, but ended up being played on Tuesday night. 

Mills is general manager for PJ Whelihan's, a restaurant and bar on Haddon Avenue in Westmont.

Mills had tickets to Sunday's game for himself and his brother as part of a Christmas gift. While he was disappointed in the decision to move the game, he was also able to get the night off Tuesday and head out in better weather.

The NFL postponed Sunday's game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia because heavy snow created public-safety concerns, the league said. On Tuesday, the Eagles ended up losing to the Vikings, 24-14, in a performance as sloppy as the roads in freezing South Jersey.

At bars and restaurants throughout South Jersey on Tuesday night, football fans got out from under the snow to watch the NFL's first Tuesday night game since 1946.

At the Stone Grille in Blackwood, the bar started filling up just before the 8 p.m. kickoff.  That was a relief to Peter Mooradian, the restaurant's general manager. 

"I'm hoping we'll fill every bar seat," he said. "We have a pretty good crowd today."

Mooradian said business had been brisk at the restaurant on Sunday—until late afternoon when the snow started piling up. 

Those who ventured out to the Stone Grille on Tuesday night said they were glad to have a distraction from the weather. 

"I didn't feel like sitting home alone watching this tonight," said Michael Harvey, an IT specialist. "I've been sitting in the house for a while now."

Despite the large number of Eagles fans in the house, Rick Marquez, a federal prison system employee, wasn't shy about flying another team's colors: He wore a New York Giants sweatshirt—apparently not embarrassed by what happened to his team nine days earlier against the Birds. 

"I would have stayed home and watched if this had been on a Sunday," he said. But, he added, "I'm kind of glad it's on a Tuesday night actually. There's nothing on, not on a Tuesday night."

Anthony Dellarcipretete, wearing an Eagles jersey, was on holiday break from his job as a painter at the Philadelphia Naval Business Center. 

Had the game been played Sunday, he said, "I still don't think I'd be out. I wouldn't be out in the snow. I'm glad they canceled it."

At Blackwood's Cherrywood Bar and Grille, a smaller crowd gathered to watch the  game. 

Of the snowstorm, Bill Roda, a Giants fan, said, "I actually stopped here (Sunday) to pick up some local beer and there was nobody out."

Postponing the game was the right move, he said, despite Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell's assertion the NFL's decision was evidence we've become a "nation of wussies."

"A family taking their lives in their hands to get to Philadelphia—it makes no sense," Roda said.  

PJ Whelihan's chose not to close early Sunday, despite the lack of an Eagles game and the lousy weather. 

"Since a lot of our customers walk (to PJ Whelihan's in Westmont), we stayed open for business," Mills said.

"Now we're hoping everything we anticipated on Sunday will be recovered" tonight, he added.

Mills clocked out of work at 4 p.m. to head to Lincoln Financial Field for the game. 

A half-hour before kickoff, PJ Wheilhan's was packed with fans of all ages, and everyone had an opinion.

Haddonfield residents Emily Cofsky and Rachel Karamessinis, home for college break, agreed the game should have been postponed, but for different reasons.

Karamessinis raised travel and safety as issues, while Cofsky recalled the rowdy fans during a snowy Eagles game last year against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field. She was there to witness what she called a "brutal snowball fight."

She joked that the grounds crew at the Linc "left a snowball in the cup holder of every seat" before Tuesday night's game. 

The Fletcher family, from various parts of Camden County, had split opinions.

Betty Fletcher thought the game should have been played Sunday, not necessarily to fill the stadium, but "because people were at home with nothing to do but watch the game." 

Her son Nicholas had built his day around the game: "It messed up my whole entire Sunday."

Anthony DiMento, an attorney from Haddonfield, looked at the switch pragmatically.

"It's good for the NFL, for concessions, for parking. It doesn't matter, because the Eagles are already in" the playoffs, he said. "We're having fun."

At the Hollywood Café & Sports Bar in Woodbury Heights, there was no shortage of support for the Eagles; and no shortage of good humor, either.

"I think they should have manned up and played in the snow," remarked Amber Bruzek, of West Deptford, as she took a drink order

The fact that it was  a Tuesday night didn't seem to faze many patrons. Jason Mullins, a 21-year-old West Deptford sanitation worker, was due back to work at 7 a.m. Wednesday, but that didn't stop him from enjoying a beer with his pal Shane Grady. 

"Vick's offense keeps us coming, and the atmosphere is better when you've got other fans all around," Mullins said.

Outside in 28-degree weather, Lamar Ledbetter, of Penns Grove, exemplified team spirit. He was getting game updates by text message while shivering and stamping his feet in a parking spot that he held for his friends so they could all enjoy the game together.
"It's worth it," he said. "It's a team effort, coming out here to support the Eagles."

At T.G.I. Friday's in Mount Laurel, Dan Morales, of Delanco, used the game for bonding time. 

"Normally there wouldn't be a game on a Tuesday night, but because of the circumstances, there is a game and we are using the game to hang out with our family," he said. "For Christmas I received a Friday's gift card and the game is on so we figured, 'Let's use it.'"

At the PJ Whelihan's in Maple Shade, Tuesdays are normally busy because it's the restaurant's "wing night." Because of the large crowd out to watch the game, the restaurant had to restrict entry to customers 21 and older after 7 p.m.

"We usually have a lot of younger people and teenagers come in on 'wing night' and that's nice because it includes the family," said Moorestown resident Lauren Fisher, a manager at PJ Whelihan's. "Tonight we are very busy because of the Eagles game."

Sue Stephens, of Delran, has been the manager at Cinnaminson's Whistlers Inn for six years. 

"Compared to a normal Tuesday night, business has been very good," Stephens said. 

Several patrons showed up for the half-price barbecue featured every Tuesday.

"People came in later for the game, around 7:30," Stephens said. "A lot of people came here for the barbecue, but because of the game, a lot of people stayed, as well."

Stephens seemed eager to work on a Tuesday night as an Eagles fan.

"It's been a fun crowd," she said.

Grant Belgrave, Helga Oliveros, Chris Zoog and Josh Sherlock enjoyed time together at Whistlers. Belgrave grew up in Cinnaminson and has since moved to Miami. He is back with Oliveros visiting friends from Cinnaminson.

"It's a mini high school reunion," said Belgrave.

Meanwhile, at the Jug Handle Inn, Dianna Simons met up with some former co-workers.

"We are having a Wawa reunion tonight" said Simons, who hung out with her former Maple Shade Wawa co-workers to watch the game.

Karin Kinkaide, who normally comes to the Jug Handle Inn with her friends Judi Wilhelm, Mary Krier and Duanne Sullivan said, "I'm very happy they are playing on a Tuesday."

"As long as we get a 'W,' we are happy," said Krier. 

Alas, Krier and crew didn't leave happy. 

At Bulldogs Bar and Grill in Galloway, many patrons wore Eagles green. 

"Snow doesn't stop an Eagles fan, a true Eagles fan," said Jenn Gross, 36, who lives in Atlantic City and Ft. Lauderdale. 

Roger Bradford, Bulldogs' owner, said he was hoping for a big crowd Tuesday night, following a good turnout for the regular Monday Night Football game the previous night. 

Steve Garbutt, 49, of Galloway, said he was disappointed the game was postponed Sunday, but it all worked out in the end.

"I was out working, plowing the snow, so I was upset because I thought I was going to get to listen to the game while working," he said. " Other than that I don't mind as long as they play."

At Tailgaters in Galloway, John Leon, 53, of Absecon, said: "I think they should have played (Sunday.) There was only seven inches" of snow.

But, he said, "any way you look at it, the Eagles were going to be on in primetime."

Woody Hart, the bar manager at the Anchorage Tavern in Somers Point, said postponing the game was a curious move, but it had a positive result.

"I don't understand it," said Hart, 46. "Games have been played in snow before. I don't know why they canceled this one, but it helps the crowd here" on a Tuesday night.

Megan Graves, 29, of Somers Point, wondered how Tuesday's game would affect the Eagles, who have to play again on Sunday, against the Dallas Cowboys. 

"They should take it easy, because they already won the division," she said, referring to the Eagles' NFC East title. "I'm happy that I get to go out and watch some football on Tuesday. It's not often that it happens."

At Gregory's in Somers Point, "Taco Tuesday" was more crowded than usual.

"Sunday night was slow, but the Eagles definitely helped our Tuesday business," said owner Paul Gregory. "At 7:30 it was a regular 'Taco Tuesday' crowd, but the place was packed by 8 o'clock."

Megan Wileczek, 29, of Ventnor, said: "I would have been able to watch the game either way, but for my family who are season ticketholders, (the postponement) was for their safety. They would have gone down there" to the stadium on Sunday.

Meghan Mucciarelli, Julie Dengler, Michael Newsham, Michelle Teel and Giuseppe Ungaro contributed to this story.